Teliti Share Discussion Threads

[renixus1] 22/1/2007 21:12

Did any large private shareholder's on here manage to get in touch with the CEO?

Jeff Williams, Chief Executive Officer Tel: [phone]
Telephone Maintenance Group Plc Mobile: [phone]

The casual nature of the announcement seems odd, no mention of difficult trading conditions, accounting adjustments - nothing, even though the amount is obviuosly material to the company. In any case, full story will probably be known at the end of the month, so no big deal. Just would be curious to know why the announcement was so blasé, more in line with the tone of announcement you would expect for a £1m profit, but letting the market know about the unexpected stock write-down of £250,000.

I've given up complaining to AIM about this kind of thing, they don't seem to be interested - take your own legal advice on the matter and pursue directly with the company (coz they ain't breaking our AIM rules) is usually the response. Yeah, that's really going to help the average private investor.

[blank frank] 22/1/2007 20:43

One of my maxims is: "Seek truth from facts."

At the moment the facts are sketchy at best. Hopeully they will become clearer shortly.

I certainly agree that an explanation is warranted.

B.F.

[whynot3] 22/1/2007 20:18

Blank Frank - Surely ou must be at the end of your tether now with this incompetent bunch !! They have misled everybody by alluding to the fact that results would be in line with expectations - to me that is corporate fraud !!

[jannief] 22/1/2007 20:15

I suspect the rumour I heard that Greg Hallett had resigned or been kicked out was probably correct. If true he will be the fall guy for this disaster - after all his track record prior to joining this company was pretty disastrous!

[blank frank] 22/1/2007 20:02

jonwig - 22 Jan'07 - 19:14 - 151 of 151 (premium)

" ... B F - do I take it you're content for the CEO to remain in post? ... "

Until we have more info. on the precise nature of the loss, and why it wasn't flagged up earlier, it's difficult to know the extent of any failings, and who is responsible. The CEO's role is more strategic, so he may not actually be responsible for the implementation of financial controls.

The fact that this loss has only emerged at the audit stage does suggest to me that it could be largely of a non-trading nature.

From the CEO's report that I posted on the old TEL thread about a year ago:-

Blank Frank - 14 Jan'06 - 18:09 - 114 of 708 edit

"The CEO's report
Jeff Williams ...
Future Direction
With these solid foundations in place, new products and services are continually being evaluated and invested in by the Company to ensure we continue to offer "best of breed" products and services, together with the most modern practices which are synonymous with the quality of TMG's working relationships with its clients ...
We are competing at the highest level in the converged voice and data market and our expertise will ensure that new and existing cusomers are confident of TMG's ability to take them along their technology road map. ...
Alliances and Acquisitions
In September 2005 the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Alba Consultancy a specialist support services Company through the acquisition of Cassydora ... I am confident that through this association and alliance the Company will not only benefit from new blue-chip clients becoming customers of TMG, but also the ability, as the board has declared its intention, to widen our support services offering. ...
Finally
... Ian's example and contribution will not be lost as the sales and marketing team, built up over the last two years, continues to perform at the highest levels in the future.
I have focussed and continue to focus on improving our internal processes and ensuring the mix of skills, knowledge and abilities of our people throughout the Group is designed to provide TMG with the best opportunity to deliver the services our customers demand and business growth.
The voice and data market will always be about relationships between our staff, our partners and our clients and for this reason I have always believed in employing passionate people committed to customer care. This has undoubtedly contributed to TMG's success. I would like to thank all the team at TMG for their contribution and look forward to an exciting 2006.
In closing, I thank you, the shareholders for your support during our first year as a publicly quoted Company, and look forward to updating you with further news on the Company and its successes in the future."

[blindfaith2] 22/1/2007 20:00

Jon - This is a disgrace even for an AIM listed company. Why a stock write off of £250K ? and why a trading loss of £750K, just what is going on here.


Have the Directors still been drawing their salaries ? What about cash, it is only time before losses filter down to the bank account and we know TEL don't have much w/c so where does this leave the company.


Extremely annoyed and pi$$ed off.

[jonwig] 22/1/2007 19:14

Were the results delayed because the auditors found stuff which the board had overlooked, or misinterpreted?

Twice the directors said 'fine' but at the last moment had to accept the audit.
Maybe, but that means incompetence, not dishonesty.

B F - do I take it you're content for the CEO to remain in post?

We'll see what the actual figures look like, but they showed a loss of only £7,000 at the H1 stage (unaudited) so I do really suspect that their internal controls will prove to be up the creek. Otherwise how can they be talking about a FY loss of £750,000 (taking out the stock write-offs)?

[blank frank] 22/1/2007 18:40

22/01/07 14:00 UKREG Trading Statement

"Telephone Maint Trading Statement

RNS Number:9235P
Telephone Maintenance Group PLC
22 January 2007

Telephone Maintenance Group Plc

Telephone Maintenance Group Plc ("TMG") announces that, prior to the completion
of the audit for the year ended 31 July 2006, it expects to report a loss for
that year of in the region of #1m, including stock write downs of approximately
#250,000.

TMG expects to publish and send its audited results to shareholders on or before
31 January 2007, as is required under the AIM Rules.

Enquiries:

Jeff Williams, Chief Executive Officer Tel: [phone]
Telephone Maintenance Group Plc Mobile: [phone]

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END"



Obviously a real surprise and disappointment, especially in light of the large placing at 63p in October.

I can only hope that the majority of the loss is of a non-trading nature, i.e. write-downs of some sort. The results themselves, and their accompanying statement, will obviously allow a more informed view to be formed.

It's now more important than ever that current trading is seen to be positive. If that is the case, and the company is adopting a 'big bath' approach to dump bad figures into the results to 31.7.06, then a good result for the current year to 31.7.07 could be possible.

In that respect, I'm not sure that a bid would be the best long-term outcome, if it involves selling the company on the cheap. I wouldn't be surprised though if Maintel starts sniffing around.

I would hope to see some director share-buying after the results to help to restore confidence.

B.F.

[blindfaith2] 22/1/2007 18:37

Surely they should be taken to task, waiting 6 months to announce this huge loss, why the bloody hell did they not realise this months and months ago. The Directors have a lot to answer for sitting on this news for so long.

It is quite clear the Directors are way below the standards needed for a public company and I await details of what the hell has been going on. I may even be tempted to report them to the FSA over this. I thought the company had a duty to report trading matters to the markets and not stick their heads in the sand.

[jonwig] 22/1/2007 15:01

Yes Kimboy - just noticed it and sold out @ 70p.

Shafted.
Even the most elastic measure can't make these 'in-line' can it?

[kimboy2] 22/1/2007 14:54

Anybody got anything to say ?

[tenapen] 21/1/2007 17:49

Ready to blow us all away is presently in 19 place.

[kimboy2] 18/1/2007 10:40

Perhaps that was what the placing was for.

[jonwig] 18/1/2007 10:19

There was indeed, Kimboy - 19/1006 RNS right at the end:

The Board of Directors expects to be in a position to commence the payment of dividends during the current financial year.

What a tease!

[kimboy2] 18/1/2007 09:59

It seems a long time ago but wasn't there mention of a dividend as well ?

[jonwig] 18/1/2007 09:25

To continue, on 15/06/2006 TEL said:

Trading in TMG is broadly in line with the current market expectations.

... so that would be £500k pre-tax.

On 19/10/2006 TEL said:

2006 trading is broadly in line with market expectations and it is the Board's
intention to continue to pursue their strategy of combining organic growth with
selective earnings enhancing acquisitions.

...had £500k changed to £400k by then?
Anyway, they've said nothing since.

[blindfaith2] 17/1/2007 18:14

Nah..........4:29pm

[jonwig] 17/1/2007 12:48

results wed 31st jan.

LOL!! At 4:25pm?

[stemis] 17/1/2007 08:37

BF,

The reason I suggested that Hardman pretty much seem to have given up on TEL is that they haven't had any forecasts for over 9 months (despite 2 'trading updates'). In Hardmans July newsletter they said they'd be updating their forecasts in 'due course'. It's now 6 months later. The last few newsletters just repeat information in RNS announcements (and the last one just says 'no further developments'). So pretty much no 'research' for quite a while. Maybe they are just waiting for the results and are as sceptical as the rest of us!

Actually I'm quite looking forward to the results now!